Top U.S. Intelligence Official: Turkey's Purges Are Harming The War Against The Islamic State

U.S. National Intelligence Director James Clapper attends the ''Meeting of the Ministers of the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL: Joint Plenary Session'' at the State Department in Washington, U.S., July 21, 2016. REUTERS/JOSHUA ROBERTS

Reuters: Turkey shakes up armed forces, U.S. says purges harming cooperation

Turkey has begun overhauling its armed forces following a failed coup, but its NATO ally the United States complained that the purges of generals and officers were hindering cooperation in the fight against Islamic State.

The military announced late on Thursday the promotion of 99 colonels to the rank of general or admiral, part of a shake-up that left General Staff chief Hulusi Akar and the army, navy and air force commanders in their posts.

The announcement came shortly after the dishonorable discharge of nearly 1,700 military personnel over their alleged roles in the abortive July 15-16 putsch, in which at least 246 people were killed and more than 2,000 injured. About 40 percent of all generals and admirals have been dismissed since the coup.

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Update: US intel director: Turkish purge impeding fight against 'Islamic State' (DW)

WNU Editor: Turkey is saying that these purges will actually enhance the fight against the Islamic State .... Turkey: military purge good for 'IS' fight (DW). What's my take .... when you fire and/or imprison a good part of your senior military staff, it will impact all operations. But .... considering what has happened .... the Turkish government had to get rid of these generals in order to insure their own security.

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